It affirms that ‘Women are entitled to the equal enjoyment and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field’ (Art.3) and urges States to condemn violence against women and not to invoke any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid their obligations with respect to its elimination. Article 4 urges States to ‘pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating violence against women. In respect of reparations for women victims of violence’ it specifies that State should:

'develop penal, civil, labor and administrative sanctions in domestic legislation to punish and redress the wrongs caused to women who are subjected to violence; women who are subjected to violence should be provided with access to the mechanisms of justice and, as provided for by national legislation, to just and effective remedies for the harm that they have suffered; States should also inform women of their rights in seeking redress through such mechanisms.'